Winik, Meir

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WINIK, MEIR

WINIK, MEIR (1886–1966), agronomist. Born in Odessa, Winik graduated as a technological engineer from the Polytechnic of Warsaw. Immigrating to Ereẓ Israel in 1906, he was employed as a chemical engineer at the wine cellars of Rishon Le-Zion and in 1910 proceeded to Paris to study the fermentation of grapes and soil problems at the Pasteur Institute and the National Agricultural Institute. Returning to Ereẓ Israel, he introduced many modern scientific processes in the manufacture of wine and the improvement of grape strains and soil quality. He enlisted in the Jewish Legion of the British Army during World War i and after the war taught chemistry at the Agricultural School of Mikveh Israel. He was awarded the Israel Prize for Agriculture in 1956.